Best 18650 Battery Chargers 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

18650 batteries are a type of rechargeable lithium ion batteries that gets its name from its dimension—18mm by 65mm. They are commonly used for vaping or e-cigarettes and flashlights, but can also be used in other devices.

If you ever find yourself using this type of batteries, then you'll know that you'll also need a good battery charger. Read on for a list of the best 18650 battery chargers and learn about what separates them from the others.

Best 18650 Battery Chargers 2018

Nitecore is a leading manufacturer of light and electronic tools, with flashlights and chargers as their two main products. The Nitecore i4 Intellicharger is a top seller and for a good reason. The charger is compatible with Li-ion, Ni-MH, and Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries.

It has four battery slots with monitors and charges independently. It also has three colors LED lights to indicate the charging progress for each battery.

Another great feature of this charger is the overcharging timeout protection. It stops when the charging is complete. It has four battery slots and is compatible to 1.2V, 3.7V, 4.2V and 4.35V batteries.

The package includes a US wall power cord. It doesn't include batteries and DC adapter.​

Pros​

Automatically stops charging when the batteries are full.

Uses a durable fire retardant and flame resistant material.

Each battery slot monitors and charges independently

Identify the type of battery used so it can give the appropriate voltage and current.

​Cons

Another entry from Nitecore is the i2 Intellicharge Charger. Most of the features are the same as the i4. The main difference is that the i2 can only charge two batteries simultaneously.

Like the i4, it is compatible with Li-ion, Ni-MH, and Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries. It also has the three color light indicators, overcharging timeout protection, and fire retardant and flame resistant material.

Since there are only two battery slots, the charger is smaller and easier to carry around. Otherwise, it’s very much like the i3 Intellicharge Charger.​

Pros​

Automatically stops charging when the batteries are full.

Fire retardant and flame resistant materials for safety.

Automatically identifies the type of battery and gives the appropriate voltage and current.

Easy to adjust sliders.

Reverse polarity protection.

Compatible with a car charger so you can charge on the go.

​Cons

It does not support as many sizes as the i4, so it’s not as versatile.

Efest is a company with teams from Hong Kong, Canada, and Japan. They research on power battery solutions so they can manufacture the best possible lithium batteries and LCD chargers.

The Efest LUC V4 is a universal charger for 10440, 18350, 14500, 18500, 16650, 18650 and 26650. It offers three charging mode options (0.5A, 1A, and 2A) and can charge four batteries simultaneously

The charger protects you from overvoltage, short circuit, reverse polarity, and over discharging. When batteries are fully charged, it automatically stops. It also auto-recharges when the voltage is below 4.10V.

However, the unique feature of this charger is that it has a USB output so it can act as a power bank to charge cell phones, tablets, mp4, etc. The package comes in a gift box that includes the charger body, an adapter, manual, and warranty card.​

Pros​

Also works as a power bank.

It can protect batteries from over-discharging, short circuit, reverse polarity, and overvoltage.

​Cons

Advantages of 18650 Batteries

Standard AA or AAA batteries have been around for a long time, but unfortunately, their use is very limited. On the other hand, 18650 batteries have many uses. They are long lasting, rechargeable, and cost effective.

​Laptops, cameras, cellphones, flashlights and many other devices are just some of the things that use 18650. Compared to other types of battery, 18650 batteries drain at a slower rate.

Another advantage of 18650 batteries is that it’s more environmentally friendly. You won’t need to throw away batteries right after they’re out because you can recharge them.

​18650 Battery Charge Use

Chargers usually have light indicators to show complete charge or still charging. It varies per manufacturer but generally, a still green light means the charging is complete, a red glow means battery low or charging.

​Batteries can take hours to charge, depending on the battery manufacturer and the charger as well. Just try to follow the battery and charger manufacturer's instructions.

Important Considerations When Buying 18650 Chargers​

There is a wide selection of 18650 chargers in the market, many of which are very cheap. However, you must be careful because you might be getting cheap performance as well.

Some of the top brands for battery chargers are Sony, Nitecore, and Panasonic. You will pretty much not go wrong with these brands. However, there are still other things to consider.

18650 batteries are very powerful, so you will need a charger that can bring it back to full life efficiently. Look into the amp draw of the charger; the higher the amp draw, the faster the batteries will charge.

​It should also have safety features to prevent overheating, explosions, electrical problems or anything else that is damaging.

Most chargers have an indicator for the battery level. However, what you should look out for is a charger that shuts off when the battery is fully charged.

Then the last thing to consider is the number of ports, which is up to your personal needs and preference.

Tips on Using Your Charger​

It's very easy to use chargers; just make sure the batteries are placed correctly and in the right direction. Otherwise, there's a risk of fire and damage to the batteries and the charger itself. The battery can also potentially discharge.

Though the chargers on our list don't have these risks, it's something you should be aware of in case you go for other chargers.

Another important tip is never to leave your batteries charging unattended. Though many manufacturers have addressed the safety issues, it's still always better to be safe and be mindful of your charging.

Set a timer or reminder if you must so you can unplug or switch off your charger. Discontinue the charging if you feel that it’s getting very hot. Lithium batteries are fairly safe, but it's always best to be extra cautious.

​Conclusion

Via Amazon.com

Battery chargers are just as important as the rechargeable battery itself. What you choose can affect the lifespan and quality of the battery.

When buying an 18650 battery charger, look into the amp draw, safety features including fire prevention features and protection from over-charging, reverse polarity, short circuit, and over voltage.

All the chargers on this list are all great quality and offer similar safety features as well as charging features. However, my top pick would have to be Nitecore i4 intellicharger.

​The four battery slots are just what I need. The charging and safety features are top-notch, but the determining factor for me had to be the brand.

Efest offers four slots and is a great quality charger, but I’m choosing Nitecore because the brand is already very reliable for this industry.​

Louise Brown

Hi buddy! I’m Louise. As a lover of the outdoors, crafting a blog about traveling and adventure is a bit of a stretch for me. I truly love to be outside, so getting in front of the computer takes me away from my passion. But, it’s important for me to share what I love so others can get out and appreciate the outdoors, too.

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